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Peter Ungphakorn (also on Bluesky and Mastodon) Profile picture
@CoppetainPU
Apr 30, 2021 • 17 tweets • 17 min read • Read on X
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RECAP, IN A THREAD—TRADE TRANSPARENCY

1/17 THE MEANING isn’t so clear

With the clamour for reform, #WTOtransparency needs re-examining. @wto and its members should do better

A 4-part analysis with @BobWolfeSPS (+ great photos by @JayLouvion) #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
2/17 Should @wto members pay more attention to external transparency?

Our recommendations are in tweet 16. Our reasons are in the rest of this thread, and the linked pieces.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

SHORT VERSION: tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
3/17 TRANSPARENCY

A WTO aim—reliable info about governments’ rules and practices reduces uncertainty about trade.

Also makes taxpayers’ money accountable.

But *occasionally* too much public info can impede work in the WTO

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
4/17 NOT about “comms”.

Pure TRANSPARENCY = straight information

ADVOCACY = stressing the positive

SPIN = manipulative, not always honest—suspect, undermining support

PROMOTING the WTO and DG = Useful? Or a distraction?

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
5/17 EXTERNAL TRANSPARENCY

A large amount of WTO information (news, docs, data) is already public, mainly through the website

But members treat it as an afterthought, a nuisance. More/better public info should be part of #WTOreform.

#WTOtransparency

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
6/17 With 164 members @wto leaks like the proverbial sieve

The Secretariat AND member governments are responsible for WTO info. But what is the division of labour? Are there biases? Secrecy and leaks arouse suspicion

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
7/17 Diverse audience: citizens, lawyers, academics, think-tankers, lobbyists, activists, journalists, politicians, business & industry associations, companies’ trade specialists. The media, NGOs are less interested now.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
8/17 WTO openness is inconsistent—agendas, minutes, proposals/drafts, document categories, website news.

Publicly available texts aren’t always transparent. Dispute rulings are public but incomprehensible legalese.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
9/17 Public info is essential for public support. Secrecy arouses suspicion. Leaking worsens suspicion, and is biased. Leakers have an agenda. They leak to people who help push the agenda. Secretariat info is more neutral.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
10/17 NEGOTIATIONS

Why does the fisheries subsidies chair hold meetings in triplicate—3 on each subject with identical agendas?

FACT: Countries do not negotiate in meetings of the full membership, even behind closed doors

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
11/17 Small, private meetings are needed for real give-and-take. Otherwise negotiators go outside the WTO, even talking directly in capitals. They do already

This has implications for how negotiations are organised and #WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
12/17 When it works, it delivers.

But grandstanding can still happen in small meetings

Now, in 2021, the configurations have become more cumbersome. This affects ministerial conferences, and negotiations meetings in Geneva.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
13/17 DOES TRANSPARENCY HELP OR HINDER?

The evidence is at best contradictory. There are two sides to this coin. One is legitimacy through public support. The other is negotiating efficiency, the ability to reach agreement.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
14/17 To be transparent or not to be? That is not the question. It’s what is “too much”? When/how does it make a difference?

Timing is key. Some parts of a negotiation can be kept confidential, but only for a limited period.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
15/17 But in the end whatever is agreed and how that agreement developed should be made public.

It doesn’t say much about democratic processes if a deal can only be ratified when the public is kept partly in the dark.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
16/17 Our proposals include: rethink WTO documents, more openness with agendas/minutes, members to make more negotiating proposals public, release all chairs’ draft texts, explain dispute rulings for a broader public.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…
17/17 All of this began with a Twitter exchange about advice for new recruits.

We might agree with “pick up the phone” when a reporter calls. But we would add: “Don’t answer the question. Pass the call to someone who can”.

#WTOtransparency #WTOreform

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…

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More from @CoppetainPU

Peter Ungphakorn (also on Bluesky and Mastodon) Profile picture
Jun 9, 2022
🧵 On Sunday, the much-postponed 12th WTO Ministerial Conference #MC12 starts.

Here is another curtain-raiser, with @BobWolfeSPS

@wto Director-General @NOIweala believes it will be a success.

But what does “success” mean?

1/11 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/tou…
“Many gaps remain but we are making progress,” @NOIweala told members on Tuesday Jun 7

“The success of this whole endeavour is in our hands. Let us deliver. The people outside are waiting for us and, believe it or not, I really think we will do it.”

2/11 wto.org/english/news_e…
Fingers crossed, there might even be a deal on fisheries subsidies, she and the talks’ chair @WillsSantiago said.

But despite “cautious optimism” WTO spokesperson Dan Pruzin warned journalists to expect ministers to meet late into the night at #MC12

3/11 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/tou…
Read 12 tweets
Peter Ungphakorn (also on Bluesky and Mastodon) Profile picture
May 29, 2022
Was it worth the time looking at the UK’s big deal with Indiana? The one the government hails as a “milestone” and the minister calls a “US trade deal”?

They wants us to take it seriously. So I did. Let’s say I did it so you don’t have to.

1/8 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/05/29/mil…
TL:DR it's not a trade agreement.

It's a memorandum of understanding, a non-binding statement of intent.

The only trade barrier that might get tackled is govt procurement.

Indiana's state-level entities have no commitments on procurement in the WTO

2/8 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/05/29/mil…
Indiana “will actively work towards” (not a commitment) treating UK suppliers the same as suppliers from other US states except those neighbouring Indiana.

“That’s the weirdest MFN clause I’ve ever seen,”—@Lorand_Bartels

3/8 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/05/29/mil…
Read 10 tweets
Peter Ungphakorn (also on Bluesky and Mastodon) Profile picture
May 27, 2022
“Agreement with Indiana marks milestone in UK’s trade with the US”—the UK government proclaims

Read on

It's a memorandum of understanding on what the UK and Indiana want to develop in their trade and economic relations. That stretches the meaning of “agreement” quite a lot

1/9
Good question⬇️. Short answer: no

So, all we know is what the UK government press release says.

2/9
This is what it says:

“The MoU creates a framework to remove barriers to trade and investment, paving the way for UK and Indianan businesses to invest, export, expand and create jobs.”

Remember: all major trade barriers are handled in Washington

3/9 gov.uk/government/new…
Read 10 tweets
Peter Ungphakorn (also on Bluesky and Mastodon) Profile picture
May 22, 2022
It’s been clear for some time that WTO members are unlikely to agree on anything substantial on agriculture—despite declaring it a priority—when their ministers meet in Geneva Jun 12–15

Information from trade sources on a meeting last Thu May 19 reinforce that assessment🧵

1/11
The focus has changed in recent months—the Ukraine war has increased concerns about food security.

But the best binding decision that can be expected is to exempt the World Food Programme’s humanitarian purchases from export restrictions—still opposed by India & Tanzania.

2/11
Expect some non-binding/“best-endeavour” statement on food security, eg, the UK-led proposal⬇️, which draws on familiar themes of keeping supplies flowing, increasing transparency, minimising market disruption.

Even transparency is a problem…

3/11 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…
Read 11 tweets
Peter Ungphakorn (also on Bluesky and Mastodon) Profile picture
May 20, 2022
Another day, another WTO topic where members find themselves under pressure to reach agreement within days.

Today: fisheries subsidies, at the end of a “Fish Week” of talks in various formats on curbing harmful subsidies that encourage overfishing.

1/8 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/wto-fish-talks…
Chair @WillsSantiago briefed the media after a stock-taking meeting of the membership.

Sandwiched between plenaries Mon and Fri, were sessions in various formats. Wills said 30-40 delegations were involved in each of those sessions, total about 50.

2/8 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/wto-fish-talks…
@WillsSantiago said the talks were constructive with good signals that need to be turned into agreement.

He announced a “Fish Decision” week from May 30, giving members a fortnight to resolve their differences.

3/8 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/wto-fish-talks…
Read 8 tweets
Peter Ungphakorn (also on Bluesky and Mastodon) Profile picture
May 19, 2022
WTO members on all sides were urged today to sort out their reservations over the proposed compromise, so that a deal on waiving some intellectual property protection for COVID-19 can be struck by the Jun 12-15 Ministerial Conference, trade sources say.

1/14 #TRIPSwaiver
In an informal meeting of the WTO intellectual property (TRIPS) council, Director-General @NOIweala said WTO members have no option but to produce a result for the #MC12 Ministerial Conference, even if that means negotiating round the clock, the sources said.

2/14
Today's meeting was held to take stock of the first two days of real negotiations on the compromise text⬇️, on Mon&Wed, May 16&18. During those sessions, @NOIweala urged delegates to be prepared to compromise: "the perfect is the enemy of the good"

3/14 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/text-g4-trips-…
Read 15 tweets

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